ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— Alysa Whelchel opened the scoring in the 47th minute of Thursday’s Mountain West opener against San José State with the Lobos scoring three goals in a span of 15:16 for the 3-0 win.
The win snapped a streak of five ties against the Spartans and the most goals scored by the Lobos against SJSU since 2016. It was UNM’s first home win in the series since 2013 and the second time holding the Spartans scoreless in the series.
It also marked the third time that UNM has scored three or more goals and the second shutout this season.
UNM outshot SJSU 16-9 and 11-4 in shots on goal, led by Nicole Anderson’s six shots and five on goal.
The trio of Anderson, Whelchel and Presley Devey were responsible for all three goals, with Devey assisting on two goals, Anderson scoring two with an assist on one and Whelchel scoring a goal and assisting on a goal.
Anderson finished with a season-high five points, assisting on Whelchel’s goal before recording a brace, her second of the season and fourth of her career. Thursday also was the fifth multiple-goal match of her career.
Devey assisted on Whelchel’s goal and on Anderson’s first goal for the fourth and fifth assists of her career, a career high for assists in a match, and first and second assists of the season.
Whelchel assisted on Anderson’s second goal, with Whelchel finishing with a season-high three points and was the third time with three points in a match in her career.
UNM took the first shot of the match 4:38 in, which was a shot by Whelchel that was blocked with SJSU taking its first shot 14:31 in, which was saved. The Lobos took 10 shots in the first half compared to three by the Spartans, with six on frame forcing the SJSU keeper to make tough saves.
Anderson had four shots with three on frame, with her shot in the 18th minute going off the top right corner post, the Spartan goalkeeper making a save in the 28th minute and using her body to save a shot in the 42nd minute. Angelina Moschetti sent a shot from distance in the 34th minute that the SJSU keeper got a hand on to push the ball off the crossbar.
It took 1:30 into the second half for the Lobos to break through with Devey starting the attack down the far left side of the field, finding Anderson just outside the 18-yard box, who cut it back towards the middle of the box for Whelchel to shoot to the top right of the goal, her first of the season.
Kennedy Brown’s shot just outside the top of the box in the 49th minute prompted another save by the SJSU goalkeeper, diving to her left for the stop.
UNM doubled the lead at the 53:33 mark after Devey poked the ball ahead to Anderson, who tracked it down ahead of her Spartan defender. Following a couple of dribbles, Anderson settled and slid the shot low left past the Spartan goalkeeper for her fifth goal of the season and Devey’s first assist of the season.
The Lobos added a final goal 8:13 later with Devey again the catalyst. Devey slipped the ball to a streaking Whelchel at the top of the box with Whelchel beating two Spartan defenders to the ball. Whelchel shot the ball low left with the Spartan goalkeeper making an initial diving save, deflecting the ball back out towards the middle of the box. Anderson was the first to the loose ball, tapping it low right into the net.
Alyson Campbell was called on to make three saves in the match before being replaced by Callie Droitsch at the 81:53 mark for the combined shutout.
The Lobos improve to 4-2-2 on the season and are 1-0-0 in the Mountain West. UNM hosts Nevada on Sunday at 1 p.m.